View full size(AP Photo)In this June 1, 2010 file photo, an electronic billboard in Bridgeton, Mo. flashes an FBI wanted poster for bank robbery suspect Michael Francis Mara. The so-called "Granddad Bandit" suspected of robbing banks in 13 states eluded authorities for about two years even as he stayed in plain, unremarkable sight.

A Louisiana man suspected of robbing banks in 13 states as the so-called "Granddad Bandit," on Wednesday was charged in federal court in Birmingham in connection with bank robberies in Birmingham and Huntsville.

A federal grand jury in Birmingham on Wednesday also indicted six people in three unrelated cases on charges of manufacturing explosive devices, conspiring to buy an automatic grenade launcher, and car-jacking.

The indictments were announced by Peggy Sanford, spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, on behalf of Vance, ATF Special Agent in Charge Glenn N. Anderson and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick Maley.

In the "Granddad Bandit" case, Michael Francis Mara, 53, of Baton Rouge was indicted in connection with the robbery of the Servis1st Bank in downtown Birmingham on Aug. 21, 2009, and the Compass Bank on Governor's Drive in Huntsville on Feb. 24, 2010.

In both robberies, Mara handed a demand note to tellers, who each handed about $5,000 to the robber, according to the indictment.

"The FBI's appeal to the public paid off with information that led to Mara's arrest," Vance said in a press release.

"'The Granddad Bandit' intimidated employees at numerous banks across 13 states as he committed one robbery after another. The FBI, the media and the public came together to put this man behind bars, where he belongs," she said.

The maximum sentence for each bank robbery is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Mara is being held in Virginia.

In October, Mara was indicted in connection with two Mobile bank robberies -- the Jan. 16, 2009 robbery of Whitney Bank and the April 16, 2010 robbery of Hancock Bank.

A total of about $6,000 was taken in those robberies, the indictment says.

Joshua Kirk Kugler, also known as "Tator," and Bill Scott Simmons, also known as "Scotty," both 21, were indicted on two counts of arson and five counts of other federal explosives charges.

"The chilling act of setting off powerful explosives in public places threatens horrible injury to anyone who might be in the area," Vance said in a press release.

The indictment also charges both men with manufacturing explosive devices, receiving or transporting explosive devices, conspiring to receive or transport explosive devices, and possessing explosive devices which were not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

If convicted, the two men could face five to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the arson counts. Each of the other explosives charges carries a maximum 10 year prison sentence.

The bomb that detonated at C&F Car Wash in Cullman scorched a wall covering, damaged a pressure wand holder used to wash cars and caused debris to penetrate the ceiling and roof, according to a complaint filed Dec. 14.

The explosion at R.E. Garrison Trucking Company in Vinemont damaged device panels and metal housing boxes owned by AT&T, according to Sanford's announcement.

A security guard at the trucking company told ATF investigators he believed Simmons set the two bombs to scare him because of a dispute the two had several years ago over a girlfriend of Simmons', the complaint states.

Kugler and Simmons admitted to making and detonating the bombs, according to the complaint.

Efforts to reach attorneys for Kugler and Simmons were unsuccessful Wednesday afternoon.

Antonio Rodriguez-Arellano, 25, and Adam Emmanuel Lewis, 27, could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

"Lewis and Rodriguez-Arellano were looking for a low-key purchase of an illegal grenade launcher, plain and simple," Anderson said in the press release.

"Fortunately, this investigation stopped that from happening. Firearm trafficking cases like this one prevent violence, save lives and keep illegal weapons off the street," he said.

According to the indictment, Lewis contacted an ATF confidential informant on Nov. 29 to arrange the purchase.

On Dec. 15, Rodriguez-Arellano traveled from Texas to Leeds, where he paid the undercover agent about $24,000 for the MK-19 automatic grenade launcher, according to the indictment.

Rodriguez-Arellano was arrested in Leeds; Lewis was arrested in Texas.

Authorities have said declined to say what the motive was for the men trying to get a grenade launcher, but said it was not terrorism.

Efforts to reach attorneys for Lewis and Rodriguez-Arellano were unsuccessful.

• Daniel Ladon Stennis, 32, and Jeffrey Doniel Peoples, 33, both of Birmingham were indicted on charges of taking a vehicle from someone by force and violence, using a Hi-Point 9 mm pistol during a violent crime, and being convicted felons in possession of a firearm.

The charges stem from a June 30 car-jacking in Homewood.

Stennis was convicted of robbery in 1995; Peoples was convicted of robbery and assault in 1996.

The maximum sentence for these charges is life in prison. Efforts to find out whether the men had attorneys were unsuccessful.